Senator Adams Oshiomhole, former Governor of Edo State and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Interior, has called for stringent measures against illegal miners, equating their actions to those of oil thieves.
![](https://thenigerialawyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/TheNigerialawyer-WhatsApp-Channel1.jpg")
In a recent interview, Oshiomhole highlighted the alarming scale of illegal mining activities in Nigeria, alleging that some retired military generals are complicit in these operations.
Oshiomhole, who served as the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), revealed that he had previously alerted former President Muhammadu Buhari about the involvement of powerful individuals in illegal mining. He emphasized that the nation’s solid minerals are being exploited on a large scale illegally, with foreigners and Nigerians alike carting away precious resources such as gold.
“I stand by my statement that some retired generals are involved in illegal mining,” Oshiomhole said. “These individuals use helicopters to transport mined resources and drop weapons for civilians trained to protect these illegal sites. This is a serious economic crime that requires the same level of attention as oil theft in the Niger Delta.”
The senator recounted a conversation with a retired general who had warned him about the dire consequences of unchecked illegal mining. According to Oshiomhole, the general had described a network of banditry and kidnapping linked to illegal mining activities, with arms being supplied to civilians who sometimes use them to terrorize communities.
Oshiomhole urged the federal government to deploy the same military might used to combat oil theft in the Niger Delta to tackle illegal mining. He commended the current Minister of Solid Minerals for initiating measures to address the issue, including the recruitment of marshals to combat illegal miners. However, he stressed the need for more decisive action to protect Nigeria’s solid minerals.
“We cannot afford to treat illegal mining with kid gloves,” Oshiomhole said. “The government must deal with these criminals with the same force used against oil thieves. This is not just about protecting our resources; it’s about safeguarding our national security.”
In addition to addressing illegal mining, Oshiomhole also commented on the recent political crisis in Edo State, where local government chairmen and their deputies were impeached by councilors. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) accused the APC of undermining constitutional democracy, but Oshiomhole dismissed these claims as baseless.
“The impeachment was carried out by PDP councilors against PDP chairmen,” Oshiomhole explained. “The APC has no hand in it. The governor cannot interfere in the constitutional duties of councilors. This is a case of people deceiving people.”
When asked about the confidence of the APC in the court’s decision regarding the election of Governor Monday Okpebholo, Oshiomhole refrained from making predictions, stating that it would be disrespectful to the judiciary. He also dismissed concerns about Nigeria moving towards a one-party state, emphasizing that democracy allows for freedom of political association.
“The people voted for Monday Okpebholo, and it is up to the PDP to prove otherwise in court,” Oshiomhole said. “As for a one-party state, Nigeria remains a democracy where no one is forced to join a political party.”
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